Photo: NHL.com
After the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final on Friday, they are one win away from winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. While most of the world is returning to normal with COVID-19 vaccination rates improving, Quebec is not letting down their guard and as a result, did not approve of the Lightning players and staff’s families to fly into Montreal for Game 4 and a possible Stanley Cup post-game celebration.
“Annoyed,” one Lightning player said in a text message to ESPN. “But at this point I’m not surprised.”
The provincial government recently disapproved of the Canadiens’ proposal to increase capacity to 50% from 25% at Bell Centre for Game 3.
71.2% of Quebec’s population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 8,491,304 shots have been administered, including 2,145,169 in Montreal.
“I think they just didn’t want to risk the bubble being broken by a random person being brought in and risking it,” one veteran player told ESPN in September. “But it felt like they promised that and then pulled it away.”
The government only allowed Canadian families to come into the Edmonton bubble for the final two rounds of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs last September, so this will be the second straight season that not everyone in the families of the Lightning players will be allowed to attend a possible Stanley Cup clincher.
“Much like last year, we’re secluded, so we’re kept away from everybody,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said Saturday, after his team took a 3-0 series lead against the Canadiens. “Actually it’ll be similar to last year if we’re fortunate enough to win because of just the scenario that’s gone on, what’s been agreed to.”
If the Lightning cannot close it out on Monday, Game 5 in Tampa Bay is set for Wednesday. Families will likely be allowed to come in for that game.
By Harrison Brown
Tough deal. I couldn’t imagine not being able to go watch the Caps win a Stanley Cup. I think I’d sneak across.
Who the hell cares? It’s hockey folks. No one else travels at this time.
If you are a true hockey fan or parents of the players you WILL travel!
Keep telling yourself that you sheep
Then why are you even on this post if you do not care ? Grez
Here’s reality only three provinces (Alberta,British Columbia,Saskatchewan),have “opened wide”. The other seven provinces & three territories have still got tight regulations. Even Quebec letting 3000 fans was a shock to other provinces considering they only had curfew only couple weeks before that! It’s a bitch that million dollar hockey players can’t get thier way but some haven’t even been to a live event in year & half! Family will support & be thier in spirit even if they can’t be thier in person!
Well in the words of SouthPark “Blame Canada”
At this point they are milking this thing for all it’s worth. There are ways they could have done this safely but they want to keep everyone in the fearful mind set as long as they can. Obviously I don’t want anyone to get the virus but they were more than capable of testing families before hand and they could have made it so they had no contact with the players until after the game if they end up winning. Teams in the states had more than half capacity for a while now and not a single super super event at any of the games. Canada was more than capable of doing the same the just didn’t want to because then it ruins their narrative.